Page 117 of Carnal: The Beast Who Loved Me

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Rosie stepped from the rose-streaked gray swirls of the passes onto the hill above the training field where she and Carnal had sat on the grassy promontory and talked the afternoon away. There was no one on the field. She imagined that the Exiled were still in a state of confusion as to what they were supposed to be doing.

Sitting cross-legged she concentrated on a visual for causing time to recede to a former state. The first image that popped into her mind was of making a sandwich at home in the villa kitchen by folding a single piece of bread over lunchmeat and cheese. She imagined time folding back on itself like that piece of bread.

All she needed was a crystal clear memory of the moment to which she’d return. She saw a flash of Carnal’s face when he’d been run through, but quickly pushed that aside. Kellareal had said she couldn’t change that, but he didn’t say she couldn’t have a little more time with Carnal. So she settled on a recollection that was as vivid in every detail and locked in on it until she felt something that could only be described as an inaudible ‘click’.

She opened her eyes when she heard Dandy saying, “You’ve been extra chirpy today.”

Rosie blinked, remembering the moment. “Chirpy? Really?”

“Uh-huh. And extra fast with your checklist. Does it have anything to do with the spectacle that I hear occurred yesterday?”

“What spectacle?”

“Carnal carrying you down the main way like a bride?Thatspectacle.”

Rosie threw her apron in the bin, smoothed back her hair, and surprised Dandy by rushing over to give her a big hug.

“What was that for?”

“For being my bestie.”

“What’s a bestie?”

Rosie grew serious. “A really good friend.” She looked toward the door. “Gotta go.”

“Be careful, Roses.”

“Not a child, Dandy.”

She felt her mouth form those words without her brain being engaged, but when it came out that time, the second time, she felt positive that it was true. She wasn’t a child anymore. But there was valuable information in the exchange. She would need to concentrate and make her words and actions deliberate or else everything would proceed on auto and proceed as it had before.

That wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to live the day like it was her last as well as Carnal’s because, in many ways, it felt like it was. She was going to savor every second that Carnal still breathed.

He was waiting, as she knew he would be.

“What’s the plan?”

He grinned. “It’s a surprise.”

“I love surprises!” she said breathlessly as she threw him off guard by rushing in for her own version of a drive-by kiss.

When she pulled away, he said, “What was that for?”

“You look irresistibly kissable.”

He smiled like he couldn’t believe his good luck. “Does that mean you’re staying?”

“It means maybe. You have another day to convince me,” she said, feigning nonchalance.

“More than enough time. We’re taking the bike so you’ll need the riding clothes I gave you. How long will it take you to change?”

“Five minutes.”

She jogged to the house and up the stairs, not wanting to waste time. With a little magickal help, she was ready in three minutes. She hurried back downstairs, jumped off the porch, and swung onto the back of the motorcycle, glad to be close enough to Carnal to touch him again.

She wound her arms around his middle and held tight.